Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Riau-Bugis Keris and Hilt?

A. G. Maisey · 11th October 2011, 01:26 AM

Malay and Bugis keris are a bit outside my special area of knowledge, but I have owned a lot of them during my life.

I have noted that sometimes they have been varnished with black varnish, not paint, but a type of varnish that gives a very dark, or black finish.

Others I have had have had a normal brown varnish, but age and neglect had turned this varnish very dark to the point of almost black; these have been brought back to a good finish by polishing with car polish broken down with gum turpentine.

11th October 2011, 01:26 AM	#12
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,085	Malay and Bugis keris are a bit outside my special area of knowledge, but I have owned a lot of them during my life. I have noted that sometimes they have been varnished with black varnish, not paint, but a type of varnish that gives a very dark, or black finish. Others I have had have had a normal brown varnish, but age and neglect had turned this varnish very dark to the point of almost black; these have been brought back to a good finish by polishing with car polish broken down with gum turpentine.